[Urethrovaginal fistulae resulting from sub-urethral slings for stress urinary incontinence treatment. A report of two cases and review of the literature]

Abstract

Urethrovaginal fistula is an extremely rare condition after surgical treatment of stress urinary incontinence using a suburethral sling. We report two cases of urethrovaginal fistulae after surgical treatment of stress urinary incontinence using polypropylene monofilament material, that have been managed with clinical evaluation, removal of the sling and treatment of the fistula. It is a rare but severe and invalidating complication of "mini-invasive" techniques, not just for the functional results but also for the patient's social condition. The aim of this article is to describe clinical presentation and treatment of this complication that every surgeon practicing vaginal surgery should know and keep in mind when recurrent SUI.